The CirKoPathes

The CirKoPathes

CirKoPathes is a non-profit circus school based in Quimperlé , Finistère, which has been developing a project dedicated to the discovery, learning, and transmission of circus arts since 2015. The association primarily operates in the Quimperlé and Quimperlé Communauté area, with regular activities offered particularly in Quimperlé and Clohars-Carnoët.

The association's project revolves around the idea of "circus for all and by all." CirKoPathes champions an accessible, collective, and non-competitive approach to circus arts, in which everyone can experiment, progress, and find their place. Cooperation, mutual support, respect for differences, and the joy of practicing together are central to their educational approach.

Organization by age and groups

The school welcomes children from a very young age and supports their development through to adolescence. Parent-child workshops offer a first introduction to the circus from the age of 3. Children then join different groups organized according to their age and experience: "Little Explorers," "Big Explorers," "Adventurers," and then workshops designed for teenagers.

• Little explorers
• Great explorers
• Adventurers
• Teen workshops

This organization allows for the adaptation of teaching situations, exercises and the degree of autonomy required of participants.

Courses and disciplines

The courses allow students to explore the major families of circus arts. Students discover, in particular, juggling and object manipulation, object balancing, ground acrobatics and various aerial disciplines.

• Juggling and object manipulation
• Balances on objects
• Ground acrobatics
• Aerial disciplines (trapeze, aerial silks, etc.)
• Balance ball
• Acrobatic lifts
• Various juggling techniques

Educational objectives

The goal is not simply to learn how to perform tricks. Experimentation, creativity, and personal expression are also integral to the program. As they progress, students learn to better understand their bodies, develop their coordination, balance, concentration, and confidence, and also learn to work with others. Circus arts thus become a learning tool that is physical, artistic, and collaborative.

Adults and free practice

CirKoPathes also offers activities for adults and practitioners aged 16 and over. Sessions provide an introduction to various disciplines such as juggling, trapeze, acrobatics, and balancing. Open practice sessions also offer those already somewhat independent a space to train, experiment, and connect with other practitioners.

Internships

In addition to weekly workshops, the association regularly organizes intensive courses, particularly during school holidays. Some offer a general introduction to circus arts, while others focus on specific techniques. These courses also provide an opportunity to explore the school before committing to regular training.

• Aerial arts
• Acro-yoga
• Acrobatic lifts
• Juggling
• Balance on objects
• Acrobatics

Actions, mediation and partnerships

The activities of CirKoPathes extend beyond the classes offered to their members. The association develops outreach programs, introductory workshops, and projects in partnership with schools, associations, and various local organizations. Its mission is to reach a wide range of audiences, from young children to senior citizens, with opportunities to work in daycare centers, schools, and retirement homes.

Accessibility and inclusion

This commitment to openness is accompanied by a particular focus on accessibility. The association aims to foster encounters around circus arts, regardless of age, physical or mental abilities, or social background. Activities are designed not only as learning spaces but also as opportunities to build connections and encourage exchanges between diverse groups.

Cultural life and artistic projects

The CirKoPathes also participate in local cultural life through events, workshops, demonstrations, parades, open mic nights, and artistic projects. The association supports collective creation and allows practitioners to gradually discover another dimension of circus arts: that of performing before an audience and artistic creation.

Teaching staff

The teaching team is made up of professionals with complementary backgrounds. It includes Andora Rayé, facilitator-coordinator, Anja Dietrich, circus instructor, and Pierro Stanguennec, facilitator and big top technician. This team delivers educational activities and participates in the development of the various projects undertaken by the association.

• Andora Rayé — facilitator-coordinator
• Anja Dietrich — circus teacher
• Pierro Stanguennec — animator and big top assembly technician

Practice locations

In Quimperlé, some classes take place in the gymnasium of the Guéhenno school. The association also offers workshops in Clohars-Carnoët, notably in the motor skills room of the Saint-Maudet public school.

Through its weekly classes, workshops, practice spaces, outreach programs, and artistic projects, Les CirKoPathes contributes to the development of amateur circus arts in the Quimperlé region. The school serves as a place to learn circus techniques, a space for collective practice, and a local center for discovering and sharing circus culture.